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July 18, 2011

PLANET’s Renewal & Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery Scheduled for July 25, 2011

by Sam Savage

HERNDON, Va., July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), the national association of lawn care and landscape professionals, has announced that its 15th Annual Renewal & Remembrance project at Arlington National Cemetery will be held Monday, July 25, 2011.

Hundreds of landscape, lawn care, and tree care specialists from across the nation will bring their crews to Arlington National Cemetery to spend the day mulching, cabling trees with lightening protection, pruning, liming, planting, and aerating the grounds. This gift is valued at more than $200,000. Over the years, PLANET has contributed more than $2 million in materials and man hours to this national landmark.

"Members look forward to this project all year long," says Walter Wray, Landscape Industry Certified Technician, Renewal & Remembrance chair. "They consider it a privilege to honor our soldiers, their families, and the public by helping to care for this place that is so important to our nation."

Mike Kravitsky, Landscape Industry Certified Technician, has been participating since the first year of the event when it was held in February. He works for Grasshopper, a family-owned lawn care company in Larksville, Pennsylvania. Each year he brings his family and a crew of workers. The company pays the workers' salaries and all their expenses during the trip.

When asked why he keeps coming back each year, Kravitsky said, "It's in our blood. It started the first year. We knew it was for Arlington, and we wanted to help. It is like a pilgrimage, and we don't feel complete without it."

His children, now 20 and 21, have been coming since they were teenagers, and Kravitsky says it has been important to the family and has taught them that "it's about giving back and not always taking, and it's about supporting the soldiers."

The Irrigation Association and the Tree Care Industry Association will partner with PLANET to host this year's event, and Syngenta is the event's Platinum Sponsor.

On Tuesday, July 26, 2011, PLANET members will visit their congressional leaders on Capitol Hill and speak with them about issues facing the green industry. For more information about Legislative Day on the Hill and Renewal & Remembrance, please contact Betsy Demoret at (800) 395-2522 or visit the PLANET Web site, LandcareNetwork.org.

PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in communities across America. With more than 3,600 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals. Some of these professionals have taken the extra step of becoming certified through PLANET and bear the distinction of being known as Landscape Industry Certified.